Would you eco-mod a Mazda MX-3 ?

[jakobnev]

The good news is that there is lots of improvement to be made!

[Cd]

Thanks for the images - what a mess !
Your car is just begging for a belly pan.

( Did you buy the car used by any chance ? It appears to be missing the aerodynamic cover that is mounted just behind the bumper. Almost every car has one, so I'm assuming that the MX-3 had one as well. )

[alohaspirit]

ive also liked the MX-3s for a while too and was also shocked to learn of its drag cd

(ive always envisioned it as an EV)

[almightybmw]

The US didn't get the Lantis. I wish it did, it's my favorite styling of the Familia lineup.

So you have the GS? Are you tech swavvy? Swap out the 1.8L V6 for the 2.5L V6. Get the same mileage with increased power. Don't want to? Ok, ditch the 1.8L V6 for the 1.8L SOHC or DOHC from an Escort GT (DOHC) or Protege (DX, LX respectively). Its a much better motor, more fuel efficient.
The 2.5L (KLDE) is found in 626s, and swaps in and bolts up flawlessly. I highly recommend it. But that totally goes against ecomodding where smaller is better.

Thinking you don't want a motor swap? Find someone who is parting out the 5th gear from a 626, I can't remember which generation. It's taller (3.6xx) than even the gear ratio found in the G25M transmission from the Protege and Escort (3.717). It's cake to remove the 5th gear, novices have done it in a weekend without a garage. The transmission only weighs 76lbs, and the cover on the driverside hides the 5th gear, super easy access. If you need, I could probably find the FAQ guide that steps one through all the steps, including where to buy the parts new.

Don't know where to start? Club Protege - Powered by vBulletin

Almighty4WD is my name over there, but I don't frequent since I sold my 4WD Protege. You will find more than enough info needed. Turpro is a great guy and mod, helped me in a few things. Look him up and mention me (Craig, or almightybmw, or almighty4wd) and he'll point you in the general direction, if not the exact one.

I used to be a Mazda buff, but since ditching the 4WD for a truck, I haven't kept pace. Now I ditch the truck, and wish for my AWD rally car back. oh well.

[bhazard]

I did that 5th gear swap when I did my swap into my festiva. Its from a 2.2L MX6/626 I believe, and its .717 instead of the .8 that was stock in my capri trans. Well worth it.

On the subject of an MPG minded Mx3, the F5MR trans has been discussed at fordfestiva.com. Yes, the 4cyl MX3 has a 4.10, just like a 323. The Protege/Escort trans is a step up at 3.61, however there was a "fuel saver" trans in the 91-93 Escort Pony that had a 3.40 final.

The thread is here FordFestiva.com Forums


That transmission can bolt to any Mazda B-series engine, including the B6-ME and B6D found in the MX3.

Also, the 1.3L engine in the festiva/aspire should be a very easy swap into an MX3...same engine family, basically the same as the 1.6L SOHC in the MX3, except 8v instead of 16v. The festiva community has been using the 1.6's in their cars for years, shouldnt be hard to do the opposite.

[Cd]

almightybmw - Thanks for joining the conversation.
I realize that performance guys think of trying to get good gas mileage out of a car like the MX-3 as sacrilegious, but it can't be any worse than what some people do in the name of making the car look fast. (Stickers everywhere, huge bi-plane wings, body kits with plenty of scoops that lead to nowhere, decals on the dash .... yet a stock engine.)

At least this modification would be functional.

With the 4 cylinder engine, the car wasn't fast anyways, so it's not like anyone is trying to detune a Ferrari. ;-)

Can you give me any advice on how that this particular car could be modified to get at least 40 MPG ?
My Civic has just over 100 HP ( hey stop laughing.) yet even with an automatic, the car gets over 40 MPG. The MX-3 4 cylinder engine has even less at 88 HP, but can't even get 35 MPG with a stick. With an automatic, it is lucky to even see 30 MPG!
I realize that the car is around 600-700 lbs heavier than the Civic, but it really has me hopeful that there is an engine swap that could get good mileage.
I appreciate any advice you guys could give me, because I really love the MX-3 design.

Thanks

[Cd]

Originally Posted by bhazard

The thread is here FordFestiva.com Forums

Thanks for the link, but you must be a member to read.
So what you are saying is that an engine and transmission from an Aspire could work in an MX-3 ?

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Cd

Can you give me any advice on how that this particular car could be modified to get at least 40 MPG?

If you can get someone to confirm that the MX3 shares its structure with the Lantis /323F, and the 323F shares its with the stock 323, the latter came with a diesel in Europe.

40 mpg / 5.88L/100km should be in there with a 1.7L diesel.

[Cd]

From what I understand, the way things are set up here in the U.S. makes it very hard to transplant a diesel engine into a non diesel car.
Diesel cars are almost non existent here because of the pollution that they cause, yet every second car here in Texas is a big diesel truck with a 6" exhaust pipe that is getting 8MPG.
As long as you have a truck, you are A-O.K. to use drive diesel.
It seems the only diesel engines that we have over here on this side of the pond are VW diesels.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by euromodder

If you can get someone to confirm that the MX3 shares its structure with the Lantis /323F, and the 323F shares its with the stock 323, the latter came with a diesel in Europe.

40 mpg / 5.88L/100km should be in there with a 1.7L diesel.

Where did the Diesel unit come from ?